Privacy implications in store for users of "Trump Yourself"

A new Facebook app from Hillary Clinton's presidential campaign which invites users to “Trump Yourself” could contain privacy implications.

The app, paid for by Clinton's campaign organisation Hillary for America, overlays an image of the user with an insulting quote from Republican presidential nominee, Donald Trump. The true intention of the app likely goes further than having some fun at Trump's expense.

Users must first connect the app to Facebook and authorise the app to view their public profile and email address. The email permission is toggled on by default.

In emailed comments to SCmagazineUK.com, Paul Bischoff, security and privacy advocate at Comparitech.com said, “Though a Facebook app that collects data on users is nothing new, but what is troubling is Hillary for America's fast and loose privacy policy.”

The policy states that information collected through social media can be used to “Help connect you with other supporters, and to solicit volunteers, donations and support for HFA and for candidates, issues and organisations that we support,” and can also be targeted with advertisements to “personalise and improve the sites and provide advertisements, content or features that match user profiles or interests or that are based on the information you provide or the actions you take”.

Bischoff said, “To make matters worse, HFA seems to have no qualms with sharing users' data with third parties, according to the privacy policy. This could mean someone who decided to play Trump Yourself one time is added to a voter database shared with consultants, vendors, other candidates, political groups, and more.”

Upon first logging into the app, Hillary for America says it will receive a user's public profile, friend list and email address and then sends an email within a few minutes thanking the user for registering an account with HillaryClinton.com.

On Friday, the Clinton campaign said that roughly 400,000 Facebook users signed up for the app since its launch on Thursday.

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